.toncos. Theso amateur ráeos aro considered likely to be the beat ever hold.

The adjourned Government land salo was Ticld to-day. There was only one purchaser, and ho waa an agont. Tho total value of land «old (three lots) waa about £11. Nobody aecms to have known about the sale at all. The pur -chaser was tho solo person present when the auction commenced and closed.

BLACKALL, Juno 3.

The races to-day woro favoured with splendid weather, and there was a good attendance. The events resulted as follow :

A man named James Prince, employed on the dredge, was accidentally drowned yester- day, in Sandy Straits.

An elderly man named Fuller, from Mount Perry, fell from a bullock dray in the street, yeaterday, and died from concussion of the

rain.

The Government have ordered an official inquiry into the circumstances attending the Voung Dick massacre. The recruits have been detained to give evidence concerning it.

ROCKHAMPTON, June 3.

A strong feeling of indignation prevails at Townsville, at the treatment received by them in regard to the encampment. They are now applying for four guns which are now at Lyt- ton, and the member for Blackall has been written to, asking him to apply for two for Rockhampton.

An unfortunate woman, named Agnes Power, was committed for trial to-day on a charge of stealing two £5 notes from a miner. Ex- citement was caused by the prosecutor stat- ing that among the inmates of a brothel waa a solicitor, but he failed to identify a gentleman of the same name, and said he had only been told the name.

At a meeting of the Town Council, it was decided to call a meeting to consider the ad ?visablenes3 of bringing the town under the Health Act. The town clerk and the accoun- tant were severely token to task for allowing their wives to solicit signatures to a local option petition at the council chambers when the men employed by the council were being paid.

At the North Rockhampton Council meeting yesterday, the mayor again declined to put the motion to appoint an overseer of works, Because it was illegal. Alderman Rutter stated that the mayor could twist the by-laws to suit his own purpose, and that he had better be created " King of North Rockhampton." A motion was made that the mayor leave the chair, but he declined to do so and the meet- ing broke up in confusion.

Ten men of A company are going to the Townsville encampment.

TOWNSVILLE, June 3.

The steamers Afghan and Victoria left yes- terday for Kimberley with a large number of passengers and horses. The wharf waa very lively during the afternoon, and the embarka- tion of the passengers and shipment of luggage was completed without a hitch. The steamer Corea is advertising to leave here for King's Sound on the 16th instant. Already passen- gers are booking.

A petition signed by the insuranco agents will be presented to-morrow to the police magistrate, praying for an inquiry into the late fire at Small and Co.'8.

All the arrangementa for the encampment »re in a forward state. Colonel French ia ex- pected on Monday morning in the Otter, bringing with him the Mackay contingent. Captain Wright is expected in the Gayundah to-morrow. About 550 men have gone under

canvas.

CAIRNS, Juno 3.

Snnday next, the 6th instant, has been pro- claimed as Hospital Sunday. Special services will be held at the local churches asking for donations to the Cairns District Hospital.

The s.S. Afghan is expected to arrive here to-night. Over fifty passengers leavo here by 1er for Kimberley.

The Chamber of Commerce intend to agitate in order to induce the Government to send the Platypus dredge to Cairns before going to Townsville, after having completed her opera-

tions at Cooktown.

The weather ia again unsettled, with strong south-easterly winds.

Fifty-three Javanese were landed here to- day by the Warrego from Townsville, where they arrived by the mail steamer Airlie. They were taken up the inlet and landed for the Pyramid Plantation Company, Mulgrave River. Preparations for an early crushing are leing made at this plantation, which is ex- pected to commence Bhortly.

One family hero havo relations on the ill fated Ly-ee-Moon. Their names are not amongst the list of saved to band.

A public subacription list has been started here in aid of the bereaved relations of the sufferers by the Ly-ce-Moon disaster.

COOKTOWN, Juno 3.

The schooner, Wild Duck, has returned from Steward River, after discharging her second cargo of telegraph material.

H.M.S. Opal has received instructions to leave for Sydney to-iuorrow.

The ketch Emily baa arrived from the Solo- mon Islands with four tons pearlshell, ten tons black edge, and one ton bechc-de-raer.